Talks are underway on how to improve a bridge which has been labelled as a “bottleneck” and a “nightmare” for commuters. The Trent Bridge at Gainsborough is a key route between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, but often has traffic queuing to cross it.Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Andrea Jenkyns commissioned a feasibility study earlier this year into options, including widening it or an entirely new bridge.The authority is now speaking with Nottinghamshire County Council, East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward and the STEP fusion project about the possibility of joint funding.“The combined authority is aware of the issues with the bridge serving Gainsborough,” Ms Jenkyns told a meeting of the mayoral authority on Wednesday, June 24.“I’ve sat in the traffic myself so many times. You’re talking half an hour for the last mile, it’s a nightmare.“We’ve had the feasibility study done and have spoken to the leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, and are going to progress meetings with the East Midlands Mayor and STEP.“We need the new bridge. I think we all ought to work together and fund it as it equally benefits the East Midlands and STEP. I want to ensure it finally happens.”The bridge was built in 1791 and was last widened more than 60 years ago, according to a plaque on it.A Gainsborough couple said: “You often see the bridge backed up for a long way – often all the way past the pub on the other side.“It’s a bottleneck, and you have so many tourists coming from the Sheffield area which have to pass over the bridge to get to Skegness.“The problem is there are so few crossings over the Trent. You’ve got the Lincoln bridge miles in one direction, and you have to go all the way up to Keadby [in North Lincolnshire] in the other way.“Ideally, they’d improve the traffic lights and roundabout near this bridge to help the traffic flow better.”The STEP fusion project at the former West Burton power station is expected to become a major employer for the area in future, highlighting the need for stronger transport links.By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
Cross-county talks begin over ‘bottleneck’ Trent Bridge improvements at Gainsborough | West Bridgford Wire
